Boyes Turner has pledged to work with 12 other law firms to support a new campaign, #ActionMeso, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and the cancer called mesothelioma, which is caused by exposure to asbestos.The UK has the world’s highest incidence of mesothelioma with around 2,700 people each year being diagnosed, often decades after exposure to asbestos.ActionMeso brings together patients, carers, charities, support groups, healthcare professionals, law firms, and many other organisations under the same umbrella to make the public aware that asbestos remains a problem in the UK which must be addressed.For the first time, thirteen law firms including Boyes Turner have come together to support the #ActionMeso campaign by raising awareness of mesothelioma and asbestos, and helping to develop future campaigns and projects.It is often mistakenly thought that because asbestos is banned in this country it is no longer a problem. However, it is still prevalent within many buildings, especially primary and secondary schools, colleges, and hospitals.Laura Magson, Partner and Head of the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Disease Claims Team at Boyes Turner, said:"We are delighted to support the ActionMeso campaign to raise awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos. We will come together with other law firms, support groups, charities, medical professionals and of course patients and carers to show support and togetherness with the common goals of making every person in the UK aware of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos and eradicating mesothelioma and asbestos. The devastating effects of asbestos exposure are still around today with approximately 2,500 people being diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Symptoms of the disease usually manifest 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure so a mesothelioma diagnosis is often shocking and unexpected.”“Boyes Turner will work with the other ActionMeso organisations to support the campaign on social media channels.”ActionMeso has planned a series of activities to raise awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos under the hashtag #ActionMeso.Law firms who have pledged their support to #ActionMeso include Asbestos Law Partnership, Boyes Turner, Digby Brown, Fieldfisher, Graysons, Hodge Jones and Allen, Hugh James, Irwin Mitchell, Larcomes, Leigh Day, Royds Withy King, Slater Gordon and Thompsons.The ActionMeso awareness campaigns will lead to major events, Action Mesothelioma Days (AMD), in 2021 and 2022 that aim to capture the public’s imagination and reach a significant number of people outside of the mesothelioma community.As a starting point ActionMeso is inviting the public to subscribe to the website www.actionmeso.org where new information will be posted regularly, and to follow the campaign on social media.
